Going out on top

Kirksville senior Austin Motley will end his career playing at the state tennis meet

KIRKSVILLE – Kirksville senior Austin Motley has made the run through his senior season and has qualified for the state tennis tournament that starts Friday in Springfield.

“It feels awesome to qualify for the state tournament. Last year I came so close but lost in the sectional round. This year I was able to come through and I am heading to state and it’s really exciting,” said Motley.

“I have really improved both my serves and my ground strokes. Basically all around I have gotten better and I have gotten a lot of help with my strokes and seems to be all coming through for me,” said Motley.

Motley is 20-7 on the season in singles matches. Four of the seven losses came to one person, Josh Hurt of Fulton.

“It’s down to the final 16 and you get down there and there are some kids who you know you want to see and some that you would really like to avoid, but you just have to go out there and play,” said Kirksville head coach Lee Riley.

Being the Tigers No. 1 singles player all season has helped Motley keep his goals in mind.

“At the beginning of the year my goal was to make it to state. So now that I have done that my goal is to go down there, have fun, compete and try and do my best to win,” said Motley.

This will be the last time that Motley will compete as a Tiger and possibly the last time he will in his sports career.

“It is a little bittersweet to know that it’s going to be over after this, but I hope to have a lot of playing since this is probably my last time playing tennis in my career. I just want to have a blast,” said Motley.

Motley has paid the price to make the state tournament and has always been willing to better himself as a player.

“He has been working really hard, we got him a new training partner that has been able to push him that little bit extra. He has been one of the hardest working kids in his three years,” said Riley.

Motley will face Skylar Adams of Arcadia Valley High School in the first round at 9 a.m. Friday morning. The winner of that match will face the winner of Jarod Davis of Mt. Vernon High School and William Sistrunk of Greenwood High School later in the day on Friday.